Retro Footy Topics – Happy Birthday and Remembrance, August 2019

The month of August is a month of excitement, with the new season arriving and as always some great games to look forward to. Back in the 1973/74 season Liverpool were defending champions while Manchester United had to start the new season at 2nd level.

Two former greats Sammy McIlroy and Ray Clemence were both in action and did they clubs proud. McIlroy played a key part when his Man Utd had no problems in getting straight back up, being in the engine room alongside Irish international Gerry Daly.

Ray Clemence was on top of his goalkeeper career playing both for England and Liverpool at the very highest level. Clemence celebrated his 71st birthday on the 5th of August. McIlroy turned 65 on the 2nd.

Emlyn Hughes, sadly passed away a number of years ago, he would have turned 72 on the 28th of this month. Another great that also have “travelled” is Peter Noble. Noble played in that 1969 League Cup final for Swindon and later turned out in the top flight for Burnley. Noble would have turned 75 on the 19th.

Aston Villa’s fire on the wing, Tony Morley is one that can celebrated his 65th birthday on the 26th of August, congratulations the the England man who also turned out for Preston, Burnley, FC Den Haag and West Bromwich Albion during a long and great career in the 70’s and 80’s.

John Wark, who played in three different periods at Ipswich Town, in between one of them he had a number of good seasons at Liverpool. Wark celebrated, 62, on the 4th. On the same day Steve Hunt turned 63, who had a great run of games in that “iconic” New York Cosmos side, in between playing at Coventry City and also some fine years with West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa along the line.

The youngest ever FA Cup winner and finalist was Paul Allen, when he played for West Ham in that 1-0, 1980 win v. Arsenal. Allen will celebrate his 57th birthday on the 28th of August. After a six year spell with Hammers, he joined Tottenham, played there from 1985 to 1993, later also spells at Southampton, Swindon and Bristol City. He ended his professional career with Millwall in 1998.

The first player to be transferred for the fee of £100.000 three times in English football was Alan Birchenall. He had great spells at Sheffield United, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester City, did also play in the NASL, Notts County and Luton Town. “Birch” still running at Leicester City in the capacity of “welfare”, will turn 75 on the 22nd.

Peter Withe, England forward and member of the 1982 World Cup squad, will turn 68 on the 30th of August, on the same day Alan Kennedy, remembered for great years at Newcastle and Liverpool, will turn 65. We wish them both all the best on their birthday.

If you like to see all names of players birthdays in August, click here